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Many liked the “Moon River” routine. So I went back to look again.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

When she opened with triple twist punch front, I assumed it was Shang (who uses the same combination). It’s risky. Potential Achilles injury.

1/1-in and double pike are weak, obviously. This Floor is hard, a disadvantage for the lightest girls in the competition.

Overall I was very disappointed with China on Floor. Their plan to compete 3 ½ twist as their BIG trick has not panned out. Only Shang warmed one up, separate from the routine.

When Wang Yan joins Senior ranks next year, she’ll be their most important gymnast. Preparing Floor/Vault specialists is highest priority for Rio.

The highlights of podium training for me were Simone Biles and China on Bars.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

That routine could win Worlds. But first she’ll have to qualify top two out of China. Not easy as any of the other 4 girls might score higher.

(via Couch Gymnast)

#FIGWorlds2014ART

Claudia should finish high in the AA. But she did have trouble with her DTY today on Vault.

See the rest of Sports2Visuals podium training day 2 photos on Facebook.

WAG & MAG

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Tamara from Serbia (training in Germany) is here watching podium training. Coaches told me she suffered a partial ligament tear. No surgery should be needed. But she had to withdraw from Worlds. 😦

Gymnastics is a very dangerous sport.

Inside Gymnastics on Facebook.

via TAA

YANG Hak Seon (KOR)

• Kasamatsu Stretched 5/2 (like Tsuk with 3 1/2 twist)

• Value 6.4

See the rest – MAG NEW ELEMENTS SUBMITTED 2014 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

And on Beam.

Looks better prepared than for Worlds 2013. Beam is easy. If she hits her new Bars routine, count on Larisa finishing in the top 3 AA.

Click through for MORE photos.

Inside Gymnastics Magazine – PHOTO GALLERY: MEN’S PODIUM TRAINING DAY 2

In Canada, our Olympic Trampoline Champion and many others are pushing a campaign called Yellowcard.

Of the 60+ nations I’ve traveled, Canada is least racist. The most ethical. Sport is the best way to educate youth, not school.

#FIGWorlds2014ART podium training

China is much closer to USA than I would have expected.

Bars was a shocker. Any of the 5 girls could qualify to the Bar Final. Second in the line-up, Tan Jiaxin, dismounts double double layout!

They are the dominant Bars nation making the “compulsory” routine done by the best of the rest look (somehow) easy.

Beam was excellent too. China is always beautiful on Beam, but did make mistakes. They could fall. It’s possible. Without a fall I predict they finish ahead of ROM, USA, ITA …

After all that excitement, Team China moved to Floor. Not good. Shang warmed up 3 ½ after her routine. Other than that, most of the tumbling was average or weak. The Floor is hard, not helping girls who weigh 45-65 pounds.

Despite lacking power, the Chinese girls run slowly into their Tumbling. 😦

USA should finish a fair bit ahead of China on FX.

We expected the same story on Vault. But – surprisingly – China has 4 DTYs. One very weak. One quite strong.

Many expected that the Chinese girls would be tired and sore having just come from Asian Games, but so far they are getting through.

Bottom line. If USA has a fall in 3-up, 3-count Team Final, it could be very close.

Check Nadia Boyce’s photos.